An International Standard for Laser Eye ProtectionAuthors:Roy Henderson, Bioptica; Cambridge Great BritainPresented at ILSC 2011

Global standards covering the safety requirements for laser products and equipment have been in existence for many years (principally the IEC 60825 series of standards), Laser eye protection, however, is subject to differing technical requirements in different parts of the world. The US has recently introduced ANSI Z136.7 covering the testing and labeling of laser protective equipment while in Europe the two laser eyewear standards EN 207 and EN 208 have been in force for a considerable time. European requirements for testing and marking laser protection differ in ...

Organic dye solutions can serve as the lasing medium in some laser systems. They might offer a wider bandwidth which provides the flexibility seen in the tunable and pulsed laser systems. A few examples of laser dyes include coumarin, fluorescein, malalchite green, rhodamine, and stilbene. Most laser dyes, or the solvents in which they are dissolved, are toxic; some are carcinogenic or mutagenic. A few examples of some common laser dye solvents include water, glycol, alcohols, benzenes, hexane, cyclohexane, dimethylformamide, and toluene. As the laser is used, the dye solutions degrad...

Control of Non-Beam Hazards Under IEC TR 60825-14Authors:Roy Henderson, Bioptica; Cambridge Great BritainPresented at ILSC 2011

A series of international documents relating to the safety of lasers is issued by IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission). These include safety standards that define requirements for laser products (such as IEC 60825-1) and guidance documents (called Technical Reports) that provide recommendations for the safe use of laser equipment. The key document in the latter category is IEC TR 60825-14 (Safety of Laser Products, Part 14: A Users Guide).

There is sometimes confusion, particular amongst those who have no need to use these international document...

Northrop Grumman Aerospace System has been developing High Power Lasers for the past 30 years. Area of concern with these high power lasers has always been laser safety. In recent years, NGAS has been successful in developing megawatt chemical laser such as the Airborne...

A variety of exposure limit tests with different materials and lasers led to non reproducible results, which can lead to false interpretation concerning the exposure limit and overestimated lifetime predictions of laser guards. Thus equal and comparable conditions for repeated test must be ensured to maintain the integrit...

Beam Quality Control and Consistent Safety Standard for High Power Laser ProductsAuthors:Hong Chen, Institute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology; Beijing Peoples Republic of ChinaXubao Wang, Insitute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology; Beijing Peoples Republic of ChinaPresented at ILSC 2011

Along with laser technology, particularly laser application technology gradually plays a leading role in the field of industrial field, high power laser products and their safety requirements attracted more and more attention. In fact, in laser welding, cutting, surface treatment and other industrial applications, most concern was focused on laser powe...

The Orion high intensity laser facility for plasma physics research at AWE in the UK is nearing completion. The commissioning of the first two of its 12 beams, one long pulse (max. 5kJ at 351nm in 1ns) and one short pulse (max. 1PW at 1054nm in 0.5ps) is scheduled for completion by December 2010. Commissioning of the first two beams has continued concurrently with final installation of the other beams and this has required innovative laser safety solutions and rigorous work contro...

For many years, our research at the Optical Radiation Branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory has been oriented toward developing a greater understanding of the transient effects of visible laser exposures on human vision. Although laser warning signs instruct people to avoid eye exposure and to not stare into the beam, for our studies we often require human subj...